A former President wrote what amounted to a cry from the heart – a cri de coeur – to the US: to change its policy towards Cuba and end its embargo that was imposed all the way back in 1962 by John F Kennedy!! That’s 61 years of forbidding US businesses from trading – or conducting any form of business – with a country that’s just 90 miles from Florida. It is the longest blockade in history!! And Cuba had been practically its colony, producing sugar, sugar daddies and mafiosi for decades before!! Can you imagine what’ll happen to our dear Mudland if, by the stroke of a (foreign) pen, we couldn’t import – say – spare parts for our factories and vehicles?? Dear reader, that’s why Cuba has all those antique American cars with tailfins from the 1960s – not to mention inefficient factories!!
But seriously, folks, don’t you think there’s gotta be some reason for the US to be acting this way?? After all, it’s not like the policy’s helping them make friends and influence other countries. As the former President pointed out: last year, 185 COUNTRIES out of 193 at the UN voted for the US to quit with the blockade!! The only country that votes along with the US is Israel – the remaining seven abstain!! So why??
The US involvement with Cuba goes way back before the 1960s, when the former President was identified. Back at the end of the 19th century, Cuba had defeated Spain to become independent – but the US invaded, and went on to rule it like a colony in everything but name. By the 1930s, President Batista acquiesced in the Mafia making Havana the casino capital playground of the American elite. Do you remember The Godfather, and the scene with Hyman Roth and Michael Corleone on a rooftop in Havana in the late 1950s?? That’s verisimilitude, baby!!
Those fellas had contacts all the way to the US Presidency, and so it wasn’t surprising when President Eisenhower hatched a plan to support an invasion of the island after a radical upstart lawyer overthrew Batista!! The Cold War with the Ruskies offered a rationale when Castro became chummy with the latter to gain shelter. And so the embargo was imposed, when Kennedy – who succeeded Ike – executed the invasion at the Bay of Pigs. Its failure embarrassed JFK – and set the template for the real reason why the blockade still exists: a successful Cuba could inspire another pipsqueak “shithole” state to challenge US policies!!
We got caught up for that very reason when Jagan expressed admiration for Castro, and his and our fates were sealed. We still haven’t recovered from the race divisions introduced then!!
Does the former President want a rerun??
…with BRICS??
One surely well-meaning Guyanese from the diaspora suggested we leverage our weight on the world stage by joining BRICS. But what exactly is BRICS?? We know the name BRIC – Brazil, Russia, India, and China – was concocted by a Wall Street fella early in the millennium. He considered them as significant “emerging economies” – as opposed to the older “developed” and “developing” dichotomy that prevailed after WWII after decolonization. South Africa was added after the named countries actually began to meet annually in 2009. Talk about serendipity!!
But exactly what have they achieved since?? Whether you slice it or dice it, they’re still a bunch of wannabees that want to challenge American unipolarity – and find safety in numbers.
They’ve been unable to agree on any significant issue, and we saw that at their meet earlier this year, when Chinese President Xi didn’t show up!! Even without the excuse that Russia’s Putin had: He coulda been arrested!!
Guyana should stay put!!
…in petroleum giveaway?
Seems that the Exxon contract is the gift that keeps on giving…and giving…and giving!! First there was Trotty, who accepted a US$18M bonus instead of US$600. And now a reduction by Bobby from US$214 to US$3M. “Briga” Bobby must face the music!!
